Highlighting gaps in mental health services for children on the autism spectrum.
NAS Mental Health Campaign - ‘You Need to Know’ The National Autistic Society has launched a campaign highlighting the fact that the mental health services are currently failing two thirds of children with autism. Research among families has found that thousands of children with autism in England are needlessly facing a future of mental health problems, because the NHS does not know how to help them. Over 70% of children with autism also experience mental health problems such as depression, OCD and other anxiety disorders, despite the fact that many of these problems are preventable.
The You Need to Know campaign calls for NHS reforms, so the system can better help children with autism through more training for mental health professionals and access to specialist autism support in every area. The Government is not being asked for more money, but to better spend the budget it has, as the current situation with more children in long term mental health services for what can be preventable conditions is actually costing the NHS more.
Visit www.autism.org.uk/youneedtoknow to find out more and pledge your support.